Drug abuse not only affects individuals, their families and friends, but also takes a heavy toll on society at various levels, according to Principal District and Sessions Judge R. Poornima.
Addressing an awareness meeting on drug abuse at R.V.S. College of Engineering and Technology here Tuesday, she said drugs corroded basic structure of society, destabilising growth, reducing productivity and weakening human resources and strength of nation.
Recent statistics revealed that 25,426 people committed suicide owing to drug addiction and related problems across the country in the last one decade.
Suicides due to drug-related problems exceeded those related to dowry, poverty and dearth of money. The country had an estimated 3.4 million drug abuse victims, she noted.
Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, attention deficiency, hyperactivity disorder and antisocial personality disorder were some of the prominent disorders found among drug abusers. Youths should say no to drugs for successful career and good health, she stressed.
District Legal Services Authority was ready to set up counselling centres in colleges and guide youths. All information given by youths would be kept confidential, the judge said.
In his special address, Superintendent of Police A. Saravanan said making youths drug addicts was a strategy designed by foreign elements with an aim of destroying the powerful human resource of the country and destabilising its development and economic growth.
Hard-working and intelligent youths were their target. Youths should not yield to such anti-national designs. Succumbing to psychological peer pressure from friends would later develop into a strong habit. Maintaining equilibrium of mind and body would make youths strong and powerful, he said.
Chief Judicial Magistrate P. Asokan said good mental and physical health and innovative thinking were the vital tools for young engineers to shine in their career.
Mahila Court Judge K. Karunanidhi said engineers were the backbone of the nation.
Sub-Judge and DSLA secretary C. Vijaya Kumar and Judicial Magistrate M. Balamurugan also spoke.
